Will Eisner Original Spirit Art: The Partner p. 2

WILL EISNER. Original SPIRIT Art. Page 2 from "The Partner" (January 26, 1947).

The premise is established quickly as Boss Skinch "welcomes" his new "partner," Joe Daws, who did eleven years in prison for a crime Skinch committed. Masterful Eisner layouts, perspective and inking. All the characters bare wonderfully delineated. We especially like the "floating" left-most head in panel 6. Eisner's head hood, Daws, shoots a bystander in the foot many years before bit actor Michael Imperioli (later of Sopranos) suffered the same wound from another cavalier hood in Wiseguys.

Medium/size/condition/price: Brush & pen inks on Bristol board 14 1/4 inches wide x 22 5/8 inches high. Rubber stamps and pencil notations at top and notations at bottom, both well outside the image/framing area. Small stats of the title, page number and date are stapled above the art, as was customary. White-out erases Eisner's initial border around panel 4; there is virtually none elsewhere. W. E. Studio rubber stamp on reverse. Excellent condition. Warranted to be from the private archives of the Will Eisner estate (exclusively represented by this agency) and further warranted to be authentic. The art comes with a descriptive Bill of Sale from the estate and agency.

Many Spirit fans would love to own one or two vintage 1940s Eisner Spirit originals but cannot afford a full 7-page story (averaging over $15,000). It was Will Eisner's long-standing policy not break up his complete stories. But on behalf of his estate we are able to offer single pages from the several stories that were incomplete for various reasons.